BEIJING, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – Across China, the application of artificial intelligence in traditional Chinese medicine is broadening, connecting digital innovations with academic, research, and clinical domains. Beijing University of Chinese Medicine has created Xinhuo TCM, a large language model tailored specifically to traditional medical knowledge. Its database includes classical texts, medical theories, herbal data, prescriptions, and educational resources. The initial version was launched in 2025, with enhancements continuing throughout 2026.
Xinhuo TCM functions as a model with 70 billion parameters, designed for use in traditional Chinese medicine contexts. Its capabilities support teaching, research, administrative tasks, and global communication within the field. Students can inquire about herbal combinations and receive detailed explanations of formulas and underlying medical principles. Additionally, the system helps users sift through vast collections of traditional medicine information, providing educators and researchers quicker access to materials that once required extensive manual effort.
Practical training in traditional medical techniques is also benefiting from AI developments. An intelligent robot has been created to demonstrate massage techniques used in traditional Chinese medicine instruction, offering students an alternative way to observe standardized movements during training. Other digital initiatives focus on medical knowledge management, pre-consultation systems, and diagnostic support, illustrating how Chinese institutions are applying AI across various segments of the traditional medicine system.
Digital policies promote AI integration in traditional medicine
From 2026 to 2030, China has incorporated artificial intelligence into its national strategy for the development of traditional Chinese medicine. The National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine issued this plan in collaboration with the National Development and Reform Commission in July. It emphasizes the importance of creating high-quality AI datasets tailored specifically for traditional medicine. The strategy also advocates for digital infrastructure, intelligent clinical tools, and smart hospitals dedicated to traditional medicine, with primary healthcare facilities included in the digital expansion.
Central to the policy is the prioritization of data management in fostering wider AI adoption. It calls for stricter regulations on data classification, safeguarding, and compliant sharing within the traditional medicine industry. The authorities also endorse standardized intelligent equipment for clinical practice, education, and research, aiming to organize and structure medical literature and practitioner insights. Such efforts are expected to facilitate easier searching, studying, and managing extensive traditional medicine data collections.
AI advances in clinical support and practical applications
Researchers are actively exploring the use of artificial intelligence within traditional Chinese medicine healthcare environments. Recent studies have focused on AI pre-consultation systems that gather patient information prior to doctor visits. Doctors responded more favorably to data collection processes than to several decision-support features during one evaluation. The research also identified limitations related to complaint recording, workflow integration, documentation, and accessibility for elderly patients. These results offer valuable insights into system performance in routine medical settings.
Currently, China’s AI initiatives encompass traditional medicine classrooms, research efforts, data management systems, and clinical support tools. These technologies assist in organizing extensive knowledge bases and structuring information before patient consultations. The national strategy explicitly integrates AI datasets and digital health infrastructure into the ongoing development of traditional medicine. Existing programs feature specialized language models, intelligent training devices, and hospital-based systems, all maintaining traditional Chinese medicine as the core focus of their applications.